Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
@tonygroves.bsky.social
Newly elected leader of lefty Irish Bluesky. Exiled leader of lefty Irish twitter, current Lord Mayor of Dublin and occasional podcaster. tortoiseshack.ie is my home.
Just got beaten up by the Winter Lights*
Never would’ve happened if they were Christmas Lights. I hate this woke agenda!
*tripped on my own open shoelace on Westmoreland Street
I’ll be on Newstalk in the morning to talk about the entire criminal ordeal.
Never would’ve happened if they were Christmas Lights. I hate this woke agenda!
*tripped on my own open shoelace on Westmoreland Street
I’ll be on Newstalk in the morning to talk about the entire criminal ordeal.
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Just got beaten up by the Winter Lights*
Never would’ve happened if they were Christmas Lights. I hate this woke agenda!
*tripped on my own open shoelace on Westmoreland Street
I’ll be on Newstalk in the morning to talk about the entire criminal ordeal.
Never would’ve happened if they were Christmas Lights. I hate this woke agenda!
*tripped on my own open shoelace on Westmoreland Street
I’ll be on Newstalk in the morning to talk about the entire criminal ordeal.
Home for the Christmas
November 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Home for the Christmas
It is 100% legitimate to complain about Ranelagh. It’s only one or two Gym + Coffee hoodies less society-cohesion ruinous than Greystones.
The Ranelagh complaint has been floated for a long, long time.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
It is 100% legitimate to complain about Ranelagh. It’s only one or two Gym + Coffee hoodies less society-cohesion ruinous than Greystones.
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
Had a BIG chat with @philipoconnor.bsky.social on the #TortoiseShack recently and because I’m very generous* I’ve lifted the paywall.
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
I Hate To Say I Told You So!
Podcast Episode · The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack · 25/11/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Bumped into a well known media operator yesterday who I’ve known for quite a while. They told me in good faith that I’m looked upon as “more trouble than it’s worth.”
While this isn’t news to me, it does speak to a close-ranks-play-it-safe mentality that is ultimately lowering trust in media.
While this isn’t news to me, it does speak to a close-ranks-play-it-safe mentality that is ultimately lowering trust in media.
But they don't because they pretend like any criticism of specific behaviour is an attack on the free press as a whole and close ranks around the absolute worst among them, over and over again
November 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Bumped into a well known media operator yesterday who I’ve known for quite a while. They told me in good faith that I’m looked upon as “more trouble than it’s worth.”
While this isn’t news to me, it does speak to a close-ranks-play-it-safe mentality that is ultimately lowering trust in media.
While this isn’t news to me, it does speak to a close-ranks-play-it-safe mentality that is ultimately lowering trust in media.
Simon Harris is going to post an instasnap video about how he was ‘verbally stabbed’ by the Winter Lights discourse.
This "winter lights" culture war bullshit non-controversy is 100% a media creation btw.
Nobody would give a rat's ass if the Indo, NewsTalk et al hadn't decided to turn a tweet from Ireland's most disingenuous politician into a national story out of... boredom? Laziness?
Nobody would give a rat's ass if the Indo, NewsTalk et al hadn't decided to turn a tweet from Ireland's most disingenuous politician into a national story out of... boredom? Laziness?
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Simon Harris is going to post an instasnap video about how he was ‘verbally stabbed’ by the Winter Lights discourse.
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
I said what I said.
Had a BIG chat with @philipoconnor.bsky.social on the #TortoiseShack recently and because I’m very generous* I’ve lifted the paywall.
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
I Hate To Say I Told You So!
Podcast Episode · The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack · 25/11/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I said what I said.
Had a BIG chat with @philipoconnor.bsky.social on the #TortoiseShack recently and because I’m very generous* I’ve lifted the paywall.
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
I Hate To Say I Told You So!
Podcast Episode · The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack · 25/11/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Had a BIG chat with @philipoconnor.bsky.social on the #TortoiseShack recently and because I’m very generous* I’ve lifted the paywall.
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
*wracked with anxiety and existential dread
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Hey Grok,
Have you change of a tenner? And do you know where I left my LeapCard?
Have you change of a tenner? And do you know where I left my LeapCard?
November 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Hey Grok,
Have you change of a tenner? And do you know where I left my LeapCard?
Have you change of a tenner? And do you know where I left my LeapCard?
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
The fact that he was found guilty of criminal damage doesn't make the headline, and the person whose property he damaged is described as a "transgender activist" but Linehan has "well-publicised strong views on gender issues". 🙄
This is not journalism failing trans people - it's failing EVERYONE.
This is not journalism failing trans people - it's failing EVERYONE.
November 25, 2025 at 10:57 AM
The fact that he was found guilty of criminal damage doesn't make the headline, and the person whose property he damaged is described as a "transgender activist" but Linehan has "well-publicised strong views on gender issues". 🙄
This is not journalism failing trans people - it's failing EVERYONE.
This is not journalism failing trans people - it's failing EVERYONE.
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
Is it called UPS because that's what they say when they keep misplacing your order
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Is it called UPS because that's what they say when they keep misplacing your order
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning for a packet of crisps that has more than six crisps inside the bag.
November 25, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning for a packet of crisps that has more than six crisps inside the bag.
The population of Belfast is no more than 372 on a busy day. There are more limited edition bohs jersey’s than people in Belfast. 8 million passengers? No. I’m not having it.
November 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The population of Belfast is no more than 372 on a busy day. There are more limited edition bohs jersey’s than people in Belfast. 8 million passengers? No. I’m not having it.
An article in the Indo with Myles Dungan that almost calls out illegal bogus self employment, but completely misses the links to “freelance” work within the wider media ecosystem. Apparently Gay Byrne invented bogus self employment…
!["Gay had to start from scratch and was involved in negotiations to do a Late Late-style show in the US,"
Dungan says.
RTÉ was desperate not to lose him - and other wildly popular figures, like Marian Finucane - and so a mutually advantageous work arrangement evolved that eventually became more widespread.
This had knock-on effects for staff like Dungan, however. He sometimes found reporters on contracts earned more than he did as presenter.
"At that stage I thought you're taking the piss, folks, and so I said I'm going to resign and go on a freelance contract, which I did."
He says he was "one of the in-betweeners", earning more than had he been on staff, but "not anything approaching the money Ryan [Tubridy] would end up earning or Pat [Kenny] was earning".
Did the whole set-up of contractors, who effectively performed the role of staff, seem like a racket? "Yeah, it did.
It was a racket. But it was a racket RTÉ started," Dungan says.
And while there was seemingly less security "unless you were totally useless and made a balls of stuff, the contracts were simply rolled over".
Still, he found it "wasn't all it was cracked up to be... no pension, no holiday pay, no sick pay". It rankled with him that some of the best-paid presenters were staff, enjoying the best of both worlds.
"There's no doubt about it, it got out of hand, and it was partly because of the onset of independent radio and RTÉ's fear they would lose people. Some of which, they did," Dungan says.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eam4odatenowhwdlijf3ypz4/bafkreiexfnvmgz4nble6k6o6xczam2aj5i5vaeezdewwddyawybbfidrre@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
An article in the Indo with Myles Dungan that almost calls out illegal bogus self employment, but completely misses the links to “freelance” work within the wider media ecosystem. Apparently Gay Byrne invented bogus self employment…
Attn America: this thanksgiving why not try nihilism. Youse have nothing to be thankful for anyway.
November 25, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Attn America: this thanksgiving why not try nihilism. Youse have nothing to be thankful for anyway.
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
In this podcast, I talk with John Christensen, co-founder of the Tax Justice Network, about whether Britain can escape the final stage of a decades-long inflationary cycle without social and political rupture.
youtu.be/5-DutvOB3QU?...
youtu.be/5-DutvOB3QU?...
Is Britain at the peak of a great financial wave?
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
In this podcast, I talk with John Christensen, co-founder of the Tax Justice Network, about whether Britain can escape the final stage of a decades-long inflationary cycle without social and political rupture.
youtu.be/5-DutvOB3QU?...
youtu.be/5-DutvOB3QU?...
In case you need it, here’s the latest pictures I’ve received from Gaza of the volunteers with Dignity for Palestine and the children they’re assisting in restarting their education. There’s even a few treats for the kids.
November 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
In case you need it, here’s the latest pictures I’ve received from Gaza of the volunteers with Dignity for Palestine and the children they’re assisting in restarting their education. There’s even a few treats for the kids.
Hey Grok,
I’ve been at this Gobshite Reveal party for 3hrs now and no one else has turned up.
So I’m wondering if the dinosaurs were made extinct because they found out about the chemtrails?
I’ve been at this Gobshite Reveal party for 3hrs now and no one else has turned up.
So I’m wondering if the dinosaurs were made extinct because they found out about the chemtrails?
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Hey Grok,
I’ve been at this Gobshite Reveal party for 3hrs now and no one else has turned up.
So I’m wondering if the dinosaurs were made extinct because they found out about the chemtrails?
I’ve been at this Gobshite Reveal party for 3hrs now and no one else has turned up.
So I’m wondering if the dinosaurs were made extinct because they found out about the chemtrails?
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
Look, NYC has shown everyone that you can't fight a social media savvy campaign like this using an old-school turn to rights-based arguments...
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Look, NYC has shown everyone that you can't fight a social media savvy campaign like this using an old-school turn to rights-based arguments...
The cruelty is a feature, not a bug.
And so it begins: client with a stamp 4 and severe mental health issues which limit his ability to work, tells me he’s afraid to claim any benefits because of potential impact on his naturalisation application #speirghorm
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The cruelty is a feature, not a bug.
Reposted by Tony - Pod Guy - Groves
An Irish leftist podcast that consistently platforms Palestinians in Gaza. That's why you should subscribe and support them on Patreon
Thank you, Lexi.
Gonna plug a recent episode with Hala Al-Khatib, who is living precariously beside the “yellow line”
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
Gonna plug a recent episode with Hala Al-Khatib, who is living precariously beside the “yellow line”
podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/t...
There’s No Ceasefire Outside My Window
Podcast Episode · The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack · 31/10/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
An Irish leftist podcast that consistently platforms Palestinians in Gaza. That's why you should subscribe and support them on Patreon
“We’re (the EU) removing our industrial strategy. Deregulation is not a strategy.”
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
“We’re (the EU) removing our industrial strategy. Deregulation is not a strategy.”
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
Spoke with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll and Sen Patricia Stephenson about the far-right, alongside FG MEP’s, taking control of the European Parliament
Watch now here: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
You could reread The Sorrows of Young Werther. But ü know it’s not Goethe for ü.
November 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
You could reread The Sorrows of Young Werther. But ü know it’s not Goethe for ü.
The Tony Groves action figure is not available in shops. But it’s also not available in a range of progressively darker moods.
Omg! You should do a Tony Groves action figure like all the cool kids did during the summer.
Complete with coddle, bohs jersey, and a despair hidden behind brittle gallows humour.
Complete with coddle, bohs jersey, and a despair hidden behind brittle gallows humour.
November 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
The Tony Groves action figure is not available in shops. But it’s also not available in a range of progressively darker moods.
Jim O’Callaghan might well be the man to save Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations campaign. But the floundering government would not survive his departure.
I’ll be on RTE Radio One shortly discussing the options facing the IRFU and outgoing Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
I’ll be on RTE Radio One shortly discussing the options facing the IRFU and outgoing Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Jim O’Callaghan might well be the man to save Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations campaign. But the floundering government would not survive his departure.
I’ll be on RTE Radio One shortly discussing the options facing the IRFU and outgoing Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
I’ll be on RTE Radio One shortly discussing the options facing the IRFU and outgoing Taoiseach Micheal Martin.